If you are unsure of your school attendance area, call the district’s Public Information Office at (262) 246-1973 ext. 1100.

Kindergarten — The district offers kindergarten programs for students who are four and five years old. The program for 4-year-olds is at Willow Spring Learning Center, and the program for 5-year-olds is at neighborhood elementary schools.

To be eligible for the optional 4-year-old kindergarten program a child must be four years old by Sept. 1. The program runs a half day — an 8:45 -11:15 a.m. morning session and 12:45 - 3:15 p.m. afternoon session. Willow Springs Learning Center will have a brief K-4 orientation Aug. 30 at 5:30 p.m. for morning kindergartners and at 6:15 p.m. for afternoon kindergartners to familiarize them with their bus route. School buses will pick up kindergartners at their home schools and travel to Willow Springs. The school is mailing letters with specific times to K-4 parents. Classes at Willow Springs begin Sept. 8. The school will be holding Transition to Success conferences with students and parents Sept. 5-7.

Each elementary school offers a kindergarten program for children who turn five years old by Sept. 1. Most 5-year-olds participate in the full-day program that follows the same schedule as elementary grade school students. Some parents choose to enroll their 5-year-old in kindergarten for only the morning half of the school day.

Transportation — The bus company sends yellow postcards notifying bus riders of their routes. Postcards will be mailed the week of Aug. 28.

Breaks and last school day — Students will not have classes during Labor Day Sept. 4, teachers’ convention Oct. 26 and 27, Thanksgiving break Nov. 23 and 24, staff in-service Nov. 27, winter break Dec. 22-Jan. 1, staff in-service Jan. 25 and 26, spring break April 6-13 and Memorial Day May 28. Their last day of school is June 13.

School hours — Students in grades 1-5 and full-day kindergarten begin school at 8:35 a.m. and end at 3:25 p.m.; Templeton hours are 7:25 a.m. to 2:35 p.m.; and the high school runs from 7:20 a.m. to 2:25 p.m.

Immunization — Wisconsin law requires that parents provide updated records on their children’s immunizations including DTP, MMR and polio. The Hepatitis B (Hep B) and chicken pox vaccines are required for all students prekindergarten through 12th grades.

School lunch program — The Hamilton food service staff is committed to producing quality meals that are nutritious and appealing to children. Lunches consist of five food items — meat, bread, two or more servings of fruit or vegetables, and milk. To reduce waste, children are offered an entire lunch but may refuse one or two items. The price for lunch remains the same whether a child takes the entire lunch or refuses an item.

Lunch menus will be listed in school newsletters, local newspapers, on the district web site and district cable television channel. Parents are asked to go over the lunch menu with their children to help them decide what to eat each day. Children should be encouraged to take at least a portion of an unfamiliar or unpopular food item.

Lunch prices for 2006-07 are: $1.75 for elementary students; $2 - middle school and high school students; $2.65 - adults; and 30 cents for milk.

Parent may pay all their children’s school and lunch fees through E-Funds for Schools over the internet. A link to the E-Funds for School site is located on the district web site.

District web site — The district web site is at www.hamilton.k12.wi.us. The site is updated regularly with school supply lists, newsletters, calendar, lunch menus and current information.

Cable television announcements — Residents who receive Time Warner Cable service in Sussex, Lisbon, Lannon and Menomonee Falls may tune into channel 13 for up-to-date information. School lunch menus, reminders about district events and local videos are broadcast.

For more information about the Hamilton School District, contact the individual schools or the district’s Public Information Office at (262) 246-1973 ext. 1100.